APC 23rd August 2020 “Love is Kind” Welcome and Introduction Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday morning worship. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for all the ways you have supported me and our family through these very difficult days of mum’s illness, her passing and her funeral. Thank you for all your lovely cards expressing your condolences. Please do continue to pray for dad, my sister Karen and myself in the days ahead. Today we continue our studies on what it really means to love using Paul’s description we find in 1 Corinthians 13. So far we have discovered that true love ‘is not selfish’ that ‘it keeps no records of wrongs’ that ‘it is not jealous’, ‘it is not proud’, ‘it does not take delight in the misfortunes of others,’ and it is patient. Today we will be reflecting on the truth that ‘love is kind’ and seeing what that means for us. But as always, let’s begin by talking to God. Let’s pray… Opening Prayer Loving God, we thank you for the world you have given us and all within it that speaks of you. You have blessed us in so much and we are glad. We thank you for all that is beautiful, all that causes us to catch our breath in wonder and points to your hand in creation. You have blessed us in so much and we are glad. We thank you for the gift of love, given and received, speaking to us of your own great love for us. You have blessed us in so much and we are glad. We thank you for family life, reminding us of the great family of your people to which we belong. You have blessed us in so much and we are glad. We thank you for our food, our clothes, our homes; all the comforts we enjoy and the innumerable ways you provide for us. You have blessed us in so much and we are glad. We thank you for this new morning, for the warmth of the sun and the richness of life, giving a foretaste of your gift of eternal life. You have blessed us in so much and we are glad. Loving God, open our eyes to your presence around us, to your love that surrounds us each day, and to your hand that is always at work. You have blessed us in so much and we are glad. Speak to us through both the ordinary and the special things of life, that through them we may know you more fully and serve you more truly. You have blessed us in so much and we are glad. Receive then our praise and thanks for all your kindness to us. We offer them to you in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen. Please join with me as we gently say the Lord’s Prayer together… And so we pray… The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us, And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil, For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, For ever and ever, AMEN. Bible Readings Psalm 107 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story-- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.[a] 4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. 10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, 11 because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. 12 So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. 13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. 15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. 17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. 18 They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. 22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. 23 Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. 25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea[b] were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. 32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders. 33 He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, 34 and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. 35 He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; 36 there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. 37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; 38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish. 39 Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; 40 he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. 41 But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. 42 The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. 43 Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 13 v 4-7 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Reflection “Love is Kind” In writing to the Corinthians Paul says that ‘love is kind’. But what does he mean? And what will it look like for us to live this way? In the dictionary kindness is described as being friendly, generous and considerate, without expecting reward or credit. In the bible we don’t get a definition of kindness but we do see it in the way that many people act towards each other and especially when we look at the life of Christ. It’s also interesting that the word Paul uses for kindness in his letter is the same word that is used in many of the Psalms to describe the ‘goodness’ of God. Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in Psalm 107. As we read this Psalm we see how God’s actions towards His people, show us what true goodness and kindness looks like. Seeing God’s kindness in turn motivates us to be kind to others. So what do we discover about God’s kindness when we read this psalm and how can we apply it to our lives? 1 The nature of God’s kindness The first thing we discover is the nature of God’s goodness. The Psalm writer here tells us that God is good and that his love endures forever. The word the Psalmist uses to describe God’s kindness and love is a word used throughout the Old Testament and it is very important for us to understand its meaning because it tells us so much about the nature of God. It is the word ‘hesed’. ‘Hesed’ is the word used to describe God’s covenant love. It means love and loyalty. It implies commitment, faithfulness and a generosity of Spirit. It is similar to the promises people make when they get married. It is a binding commitment to love and to cherish someone in every circumstance of life. The amazing thing is that this is what God does for us when we embrace Christ by faith. He says to us ‘from now on I am committed to loving you, no matter what.’ Isn’t it amazing to know that because he is so deeply kind and good that in Christ God has committed himself to loving us unconditionally. Even on those days when we let God down, when we fail to thank Him, or to even acknowledge Him, God remains committed to us. You know if that’s how kind God is to us, then we should be kind to ourselves. Let me encourage you to meditate on the truth that God loves you ‘just because’ He made you and that He is committed to you no matter what. Let that begin to create within you a healthy love for yourself, the way God made you, no matter how different you are from anyone else and no matter what other people have said to try and knock your self-worth. You are unique, beloved of the father. He is committed to showering you with kindness, so be kind to yourself- love yourself for who you are and delight in the person God has made you to be. Look after yourself, take time to rest and relax and to do the things you enjoy. Forgive yourself when you make a mistake, don’t listen to those who would constantly try to put you down. Feel the freedom that God gives you to choose to do the things you love rather than being driven by someone else’s agenda. God is love and love is kind. If God has committed himself to loving us and being kind to us then we need to learn to love and be kind to ourselves. Reflect Do you know how precious you are to God? Have you learned to love yourself? How can you be good and kind to yourself? 2 The way God expresses His kindness The second thing we learn in Psalm 107 is the way God expresses His kindness. In this Psalm the writer recalls the goodness and love of the Lord in His faithfulness to listen to the cries of his people in distress and to deliver them out of trouble. The writer describes four different types of people in four different circumstances of life. First there are the migrants, searching for somewhere to live, unable to provide for themselves, hungry and thirsty, almost at the point of starvation. Next he describes the plight of the prisoner, depressed and confined, reaping the consequences of their own foolish actions, isolated and with no one to help. Then there are those who are seriously ill, who have lost their appetite and whose lives seem to be ebbing away. Lastly the writer recounts the tale of a fishing crew- tossed about on huge seas like a cork in the ocean, frightened to their core that they are about to drown. Having explained graphically the tragic circumstances of each group of individuals the psalmist repeats a wonderful phrase of reassurance and hope- “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble and He delivered them from their distress.” In each case the Psalmist explains how God answers the prayers of these people in their distress. He provides the wanderers with somewhere to live, with food to eat and water to drink. He sets the prisoner free and delivers them from their despair. He brings healing and reassurance to those who are ill. He stills the storm and guides the endangered crew to the safety of the harbour. This is who God is. He is the God who so often hears the cries of those in deepest need and who does everything in His power to help them. If this is what it means for God to be kind, then this is what it will mean for us too. It will mean opening our eyes as we go about our daily lives to look out for the needs of others especially those who are in trouble or distress. We will stop to let people out at a junction, or to help someone stuck at the side of the road. We will welcome the newcomer to our classroom or sports team. We will want to help those who are trapped by addiction rather than avoiding them or looking down our noses at them. We will care for our elderly parents, our children and our teenagers. We will do all we can to eradicate disease and ensure that all people are enabled to live and work in a safe environment and given a fair wage for their labour. We won’t judge people by the colour of their skin or the estate they grow up in, and so much more besides. Kindness includes being considerate of the feelings of others and learning to empathise by putting ourselves in other people’s shoes. It expresses itself in politeness, being willing to say sorry and taking care not to cause offence. At times it will mean pointing something out to someone in a caring and diplomatic way. It will mean we don’t take offence easily, we won’t gossip and we won’t speak down to someone or offer unsolicited advice. It is to be positive, supportive, helpful and encouraging. As well as being kind to ourselves and other people love includes caring for the planet whether that expresses itself in rescuing a dog from the shelter, planting trees in a park, picking up rubbish from the shoreline or by practicing the 3 r’s - reduce, reuse, recycle. Christian goodness is not about wrapping ourselves in spiritual cotton wool so that we aren’t somehow contaminated by the world. It is about seeing and hearing the cries of the needy, rolling up our sleeves and getting involved in the work of helping to alleviate their suffering and to do all that we can to help our planet. This is what it means to live a righteous life. Reflection Who are the people, animals or things most in need in our community? How might God be calling us to get involved in helping them? 3 How we should respond to God’s kindness The last thing we discover about God’s kindness from this Psalm is how people should respond when they realise how good God has been to them and how He has answered their prayers. The Psalmist repeats this wonderful phrase: “Let them give thanks to the Lord, for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds to men.” On September 8th 1860, The Lady Elgin sank in lake Michigan. A young ministerial student named Edward Spencer dove repeatedly into the icy waters and rescued seventeen people. The prolonged exposure permanently damaged his health, however, and he was unable to complete his studies. Some years later at his funeral it was noted that not one of the seventeen people he saved ever returned to thank him. Thankfulness is basic to Godliness and goodness. If we are to be kind, it will mean cultivating an ‘attitude of gratitude’. It will mean that we regularly take time to thank people for the ways they have helped and blessed us. It will mean that we regularly take time to thank God for all the good gifts he has given us. Conclusion Paul says, ‘true love is kind’. Let me encourage you to meditate on how kind God has been to you and your family over the years. Let me encourage you to read Psalm 107 and to think deeply about the goodness of God. When you’ve done that spend some time in prayers of thanks. Ask God to fill you afresh with the wonder of His goodness. Invite Him to help you appreciate just how kind He has been to you, not least in the fact that He came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sins. Allow that knowledge to help you to love and be kind to yourself. Ask God to help you to express your gratitude in ways that are tangible - by being generous to God and by living a life of kindness, concern and generosity for others, especially those who are in greatest need. Today we are going to pray for children parents and our school communities as they prepare God-willing for a return to school. Let us pray… Prayer for others God our heavenly teacher, thank you for the gift of learning, that enables us to grow in wisdom and stature, in relationship with you and others. We pray for school life as it resumes again, after months of lockdown and the long summer break. Be with governors, principals, drivers, cleaners and others, who have responsibility in arrangements, for the smooth running of the school day. Be with teachers and classroom assistants, as they help pupils settle again into learning. Be with parents, grandparents and carers, as they gently help loved ones readjust to the return of school. Be with children and young people, as they renew relationships with staff and peers, embrace new rhythms and routines in familiar places, pick up the threads of the curriculum again - remembering what they have learned before, and quickly making sense of new knowledge coming their way. Be especially with those in crucial exam years, taking away fear of months of learning lost, giving confidence in what can yet be gained. Help whole school families grow in these days - physically in their new environments for learning, mentally as new thinking is required, emotionally as strains and stresses have to be negotiated, socially in community with one another, spiritually as they recognise God at work among them. Lord Jesus, whose teaching amazed and astounded, with its stamp of authority, and left its lasting mark on many lives, hear these our prayers for our schools this new term. Take a few moments now to bring your own prayers to God… All these we offer in Jesus’ name and for His sake, Amen. Closing Words It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today. Thanks again for logging on. I hope that you have felt part of our congregation as they are meeting at the same time as this online broadcast. We are sorry that you aren’t able to join us because of your current circumstances but we hope that in the near future you will be able to be with us. I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s reflection on the nature of Christian love. Please do spend some time in quiet over the next few days reading Psalm 107 and reflecting on the goodness of God. Take time to thank Him. Ask Him what it will mean for you to be kind to yourself, and others. Today in church we announced an appeal from our Moderator to help alleviate the suffering of people in the Lebanon. If you would like to find out more about this appeal and how you can contribute to it please visit our website where you will find out the details or alternatively you can write a cheque to Arklow Presbyterian Church and post it in an envelope marked ‘Lebanon Appeal’. Also, we are hoping to restart our midweek bible study. This year we are holding it on a Monday night from 7 - 8pm in the church starting on the 7th of September. We will observe all recommendations for hand hygiene and social distancing and all participants are advised to wear face coverings. For the first semester we will be running a short course on Prayer called ‘The Prayer Course’ designed by Pete Greig. Each week we will watch a short video focussed on one line of the Lord’s Prayer. Afterwards there will be opportunity to discuss the video among ourselves and then to spend some time together in prayer. There is a book which accompanies the course which you can read at your leisure. If you would like to come to the bible study please let Philip or myself know in advance. If you would like to pre-order a book, then again please speak to Philip or myself. Even if you can’t come to the bible study for the whole year, it would be fantastic to see as many of us make time to come to this amazing course. It will inspire all of us to go deeper in our prayer as individuals and as a community of God’s people. There is a link on our website to the course if you would like to find out more… There will be no midweek recording this Wednesday. Remember if you are planning to come to church next Sunday- do bring your signed Covid 19 policy if you haven’t already emailed that to us. Remember, we will aim to start at 10.00am as usual but if you can be there earlier than normal that will enable us to get everyone safely seated before we start. Don’t forget to let us know you are coming by emailing Aleida before next Friday evening. That will give us time to arrange the seating for Sunday. In the meantime, let me lead you in a Benediction after which I invite you as always, to say the grace together… Benediction To the one whose kindness is without equal, whose love is beyond comparison, whose mercy is beyond understanding, and whose power is beyond words, be praise and glory, worship and thanksgiving now and always… And May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore, Amen.”
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